Strip brace



Nov. 28, 1961 D KLEIN 3,010,162

STRIP BRACE Filed May 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR.

LEWIS D. KLE\N EQ KM 5 3 @770 m gy Nov. 28, 1961 D. KLEIN 3,

STRIP BRACE Filed May 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F? 5 INVENTOR. $5 04 LEWIS D. KLEIN H13 HTTO 1e A/Ey United Sttes 3,010,162 snur BRACE Lewis 1). Klein,- 3699 Brian- Place, Dayton 15, Ohio Filed May 20, 1957, Ser. No. 660,325 6 Claims. ca. 204) This invention relates to brace elements for use in buildingand home construction, andmore particularly to a flexible strip brace which can be quickly and easily applied to connect a series of spaced stud or framing elements in a highly economical fashion.

It is a primary object of the invention to simplify and improve bracing apparatus for use in architectural construction whereby such apparatus will be more elficient and economical to use, more satisfactory in operation,:

- and low in cost and can be quickly and easily applied in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort. Its weight and bulk is relatively minimum in comparison to the variousv Wooden and metal brace means aiforded in the prior art, thereby effecting economies both in its storage and shipment.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved brace particularly adaptable for use in building construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved brace apparatus in the form of a continuously flexible ps,

A further object of the invention is to provide a brace particularly for use inbuilding and home construction in the form of a flexible metal strip notched to provide anchor means whereby it can be quickly and successively applied in continuous connecting relation to brace a series of spaced, stud or framing elements in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a brace device which is lightweight, high in compressive strength, and low in cost to produce substantial economies in its use.

Another. object of the invention is to provide a continuous stripbrace which can be substantially simultaneously applied over a series of spaced studs or framing elements and which includes means for locking the strip in bracing relation to the studs on application. a

A further object of the. invention is to provide an im proved brace for construction use including automatic anchor means and selectively affording friction nail lock means intermediate its anchor means.-

An object of the invention is to provide an improved: brace apparatus possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics, and the mode of operation and application herein described.

With the above and other objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown illustrative, but-obviously not necessarily the only forms of embodiment of the invention:

atent O 3,010,162 Patented Nov. 28, 1961.

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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodi inen't of the invention as applied to spaced vertically disposed'wood'enstuds; I

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating details of the strip brace applied to the studding' in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the brace of FIG. 1 in similar application; I

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the manner of anchoring the brace of FIG; 3 to s'tudding; and

of FIG. 4'. I

The improved brace as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2' of the drawings is in the form of a continuous flexible strip-1, preferably of metal and having the necessary compressive strength. The strip 1 is channel formed to effect a generally U-shaped cross-section thereto with the legs of the relatively diverging from their bridgin element as will be further described. The bridging element of the strip 1 is provided by a' flexible back strip plate 2 and. the leg elements consist of flexible strip plates 3 integrally formed with the back plate 2 and commonly extending from its inner surface outwardly in slightly diverging relation.

At the leading extremity of the .s'trip I, the backstrip portion. 2 extends. beyond its relatively coextensive integrally connected side strips 3' to provide a lead-projection FIG. 5'is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 4 having a nail aperture 5 therethrough. At equidistantlyspacedv intervals longitudinally of the strip 1, the opposite side plates 3 are provided- With indentical notches. or cutouts 6 inwardly from their projecting extremities and; to the inner surface of the bridging. element 2. The notches 6 are formed to symmetrically expand. inwardly to. the back plate 2,. Theportions of the side plates 3 defining the notches 6 thus formed provide converging. anchor elements 7 at their outermost extremities.

The strip 1' is employedas illustrated in FIGS 1 and 2 of the drawings where it is shown. in application to a series of vertical studs S arranged in spaced parallel relation. To apply the strip 1 to eife ct a bracing. of the spaced wooden studs S the projecting extension 4. at

the lead end of the strip is placed over the outer edge of the first stud S in the series to have the adjacentlongitudinal extremities of the side plates} abutthe stud face, A nail is then driven into the stud S throughtheaperture' 5 in the lead end 4 of the strip 1 to anchor this end of the strip. The strip 1: is thenhorizontally directedtowards the following stud S and flexed at the first notch. 6 to open the notch to receive the outer edge of the stud as the strip is forced inwardly and over the stud until its outer edge abuts the inner surface of the back plate 2; As the first section of the strip 1 between the first and second studs S is moved intoposition, the side plate sections are placed' under compression betweenth'e studs and the anchor element 7' bites into the-opposing. faceof the second stud S to lock the strip thereto and maintain the established compression of the intermediate side plate portions. It is noted that the'stud- S;inay be slightly sprung where required to facilitate the seating of the strip thereto. From this point the strip ,is successively flexed as it is moved inwardly to seat. over successive studs S to open each notch 6, to facilitate the ready accom modation of the outer edges. of the studs inv the notches;

As the strip seats over each succeeding stud, the anchor" elements 7 on the side plates 3 adjacent the immediately preceding face of a stud S automatically bite in and tion and automatically anchoring the sections by the action of the anchor elements 7 as the side plate sections forced intermediate the successive studs are placed under compression between opposed side faces ofthe studs. The only effort needed is in the fiexing of the strip at the notches 6 to receive the edges of the studs and the slight forcing of the intermediate strip sections into position between the studs. The successive and progressive anchoring of the strip to opposed stud faces provides a simple but very effective lock of strip '1 in bracing relation to the studs.

The brace thus provided is lightweight yet very strong in compression. This prevents lateral movement and dis tortion of the studs while the anchor elements 7 not only lock the strip in position to the studs, but also prevent vertical shifting or distortion of the brace. The flexible strip 1 may be cut at the last stud in the'series. The

central portion ofthe back strip plate 2 at each notch 6 is provided with an aperture 8 so that the strip can be nailed at any stud as required.

,The advantages and economies obtaining in the use of strip braces in accordance with the invention are belived readily apparent and it should be noted that the application described is merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting in nature.

FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings show a modified form of the invention. In this instance, a flexible strip 10, preferably of metal, is rectangularly bent at regular intervals to provide rectangular offset portions 11 defining recesses 12 inwardly from one surface of the strip. The offset portions 11 are defined by parallel side walls 13 connected at their innermost extremities by a back section 14. The strip sections intermediate the rectangular offset portions 11 are disposed parallel to the back sections 14 thereof. These intermediate strip sections 15 have identical upper and lower extensions 16 which are identically folded back from said one surface of the strip to converge towards each other, in the same direction as the offset portions 11, and to the plane common to the rearmost surfaces of the back sections 14 of the rectangular offset portions. From this plane the extensions '16 are further symmetrically bent in reverse inwardly and towards each other. Their innermost extremities are arranged parallel and in slightly spaced relation in a plane adjacent and spaced from the plane of the elements '14. The parallel wall sections 13 which define the sides of the recesses 12 each have a plurality of triangular anchor projections 17 struck from their opposed faces to project inwardly of the recesses 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible and formed strip 10 may be simultaneously applied to a series of parallel spaced studs S or the like. This is done by aligning the recesses 12 of the strip with the spaced edges of the studs S'- and advancing the strip to seat to the studs until the outer edges'of the studs abut the back plates 14 of the rectangular offset portions 11. In the process, the strip is flexed to spread the side wall sections 13 of each offset portion 11-so the projections 17 thereon will pass to either side of the associated stud. As the respective studs seat to the back sections 14 of the offset portions 11, the wall sections 13 to either'side are forced inwardly toward each other to have the anchor projections 17 thereon engage in and anchor to the side faces of the stud therebetween. This disposes the intermediate strip sections 15 in horizontal position between successive studs and under compression, being'held in this position due to the anchoring of the elements 17. The seating of the strip 10 to the studs also disposes the extensions 16 of the sections 15 to face outwardly relative the wall defined by the studsand apertures 18 are provided in each of the back sections 14 abut ting the stud edges so that a nail may be driven therethrough to, fix the strip to, the stud additionally to the anchor thereof by the projections 17 engaging in the side faces of the studs. The slightly spaced reversed extremi-s 4 ties of the upper and lower extensions 16 of the strip sections 15 provide friction lock engagement means for nails so that not only does the strip brace the studs, but also means are provided for nailing a wall over the studs in a manner believed obvious and illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

In this modification of the invention, there is also provided means for automatically anchoring a flexible strip brace to brace spaced support elements by a simple application of the strip substantially simultaneously to the spaced studs.

As noted previously, the use and application of the flexible strip type brace is economical and effective. The embodiments of the invention may be provided in strip or roll form. Noting the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the side plates 3 of the strip provided are in relatively diverging relation not only to increase the brace effectiveness but also to enable the nesting of the strip on itself in roll form to reduce its size or in strip form to reduce storage and shipping spaced required therefor.

A particular advantage of the invention strip brace as employed in construction activity is that it may also be used to quickly mark off the intervals at which framing members are to be established. This dual function of the brace is highly advantageous and saves considerable time in framing. It should be noted that while a particular application of the invention has been illustrated herein, its application is not intended to be so limited.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction that the means and construction herein disclosed comprisesan illustrative form of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate notches at spaced intervals converging outwardly relative said back plate.

2. Brace apparatus for spaced structural members, com-- prising a flexible strip including a back plate having upper and lower plates projecting from one face, said upper and lower plates having similar aligned recesses at spaced intervals diverging inwardly to said back plate to define spaces at their outermost edges insufiicient to accommodate a structural member, said upper and lower plates having a slight divergence from the perpendicular to adapt the strip to nest on itself or in similar strips for shipping or storage, said strip being required to be flexed at said recesses-to receive the structural members therein, the adjacent outwardly convergent edges of said upper and lower plates formed by said recesses affording anchor elements biting into the structural elements on release of the strip from' a flexed condition to automatically engage the back plate in abutting relationthereto.

3. A structural brace device for application to the sides of adjacent structural members, including a flat flexible elongated strip, plate means projecting from opposite edges of said strip in vertically and longitudinally spaced,

, relation having relatively adjacent end portions relatively to their outer extremities, said strip being adapted to be flexed to expand said notches to receive sides of spaced structural members therein in abutting relation to said strip, said adjacent end portions of said projecting plate means anchoring in the structural members as said projecting plate means are disposed between the sides of adjaccnt structural members under compression.

4. Brace apparatus for spaced parallel members, comprising a U-shaped flexible strip, the legs of the U having aligned notches at spaced intervals which expand inwardly thereof, the openings to said notches being less in width than the width of said members, the strip being required to be flexed at said notches so the spaced members may seat therein, the portions of the legs defining each notch providing means for anchoring into opposite sides of the spaced members to lock thereto on release of the strip from flexure, the leg portions of the strip intermediate said notches being placed under compression and in bracing relation to the spaced parallel members on release of the strip from flexure and thereby fixed relative thereto.

5. Brace apparatus for a series of parallel structural members including a flat flexible strip having longitudinal portions thereof at spaced intervals intermediate its extremities rectangularly offset to respectively nest one of the series of structural members and flange means on said strip intermediate said offset portions and contained therebetween to provide an automatic brace between successive offset portions as the structural elements are nested therein, said flange means being opposite and convergent in character to dispose convergent extremities thereof in immediately adjacent relation for receiving and clamping to nails or the like driven therebetween.

6. Brace apparatus for spaced framing elements comprising a flexible strip, said strip being channel formed, the sides of said channel formed strip having vertically aligned notches reduced to their outer extremities to form anchor means integral with said sides projecting inwardly of said notches to their outer extremities.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,106,845 Ream Aug. 11, 1914 1,214,017 Day Jan. 30, 1917 1,649,226 Gstalder Nov. 15, 1927 1,656,741 Lane Jan. 17, 1928 1,852,917 Burgett Apr. 5, 1932 2,302,194 Dayton Nov. 17, 1942 2,372,919 Weierman Apr. 3, 1945 2,718,289 Collins Sept. 20, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,460 Great Britain May 6, 1926 

